ISLAMABAD: Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, presiding over the 6th meeting of the Economic Advisory Council (EAC), presented a brief overview of recent economic developments and said that the economic indicators have started showing stability and focus would be on increasing growth in future.
Governor State Bank of Pakistan Ashraf Mahmood Wathra, Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Tariq Bajwa and chairman board of Investment were also present in the meeting.
According to the Radio Pakistan, the finance minister also gave an overview of the budget making process for the fiscal year 2015-16 and said that the government would welcome useful proposals from EAC members to be included in the budget.
Dar informed that economic growth rate for the current year will be slightly lower than the target due to economic disruptions, lower prices in the commodity sector as well as unusually long winter having a negative impact on the crops. “The deficit target has been met and inflation curtailed to under five percent in the current financial year,” it was said during the meeting.
The members of EAC gave proposals for development of key sectors of economy including energy, aviation, taxation, public expenditure, food security, trade competitiveness and social safety nets.
